30 Day Journal Challenge

I have accepted the 30 Day Journal Challenge over at Run with Scissors. Each day Janel will post a prompt and we journal the way we want to. It could be sketching, doodling, writing, pictures. However you want to journal.

I think it is a fantastic way to get my creativity going and to journal consistently. Day 1 and Day 2 prompts have gone up and I've done mine. They're not fantastic but it's a good start. So hopefully by the end they will be a lot better.

The first task was to introduce ourselves. Because I have always loved those mind maps I thought it was appropriate. Excuse my little doodles. Drawing is definitely not one of my strong points.

The next task was to write/doodle/sketch the best part of your day. The lighting wasn't too good because it was late afternoon by the time it was completed. I chose to be a little mushy and said that Jason was the best part of my day :)

I think will my normal journalling I will incorporate pictures and other things sometimes. It makes me feel so creative. Right now I'm in the most creative mood, which is a good thing I guess. Maybe I will finally complete everything I've put on my to do.

Anyway, poor Jason is home sick and I feel like I might have picked it up slightly. So I will relax today. And we have dinner at my parents house. My brother and my new sister in law Melly are back from Europe! But more about that next time.

Via Weheartit

This image reminds me that I have a 365 journal and I haven't started it yet. Plus I have a few journal swaps that I must start with some blog friends. Sorry girls it will happen.

Have a wonderful week!

The long weekend

I was going to write a bit about the how exciting the World Cup has been but it's too depressing at the moment. Jason and I woke up early this morning, 4:30am to watch Australia play Germany. It was utter misery. I could not watch after we were getting absolutely smashed by them. And it didn't help that the ref 'missed' a hand ball and gave a red card (uncalled for) to our best striker, who is not able to play in the next game because of it.

So moving on before I get all upset about it again. So sorry but I really do love my soccer.

This weekend was a long weekend which I just love (even though I got up early to watch the horrible game then had to work for a few hours after, but sorry this will be last mention of it).

On the Saturday, Jason and I went to the Lifelife bookfest. That was great. I bought a few old school looking books as well as some books I used to love when I was in primary school.

The books I got. Jason bought a few too. Those Teen Power books were among my favourites in primary school. As was Nancy Drew books and Enid Blyton's St Clare's series (and Malory Towers etc.)

I love these old hard cover books. Even better when they have an inscription inside. I was going to buy a few more (in the unpriced section...books for about 50 cents) and use the covers to remake into journals. Sigh I wish I did now but I was starving by this time.

We then went to Southbank which is a beautiful place to go. There are walkways, cafes, markets, a man made beach etc. A wonderful place to spend the weekend. We had fish and chips and ate in the sun to warm up. Southbank was only a few minutes walk from the bookfest.

It really was such a beautiful day!

This is part of Southbank Parklands. I remember when they first planted those purple flower plants back when I was at school. They have grown so much. I also went to school very close to here. We used to go running up the purple plants for cross country.

For dessert we had Coldrock choc mint ice cream. Yum!

On Sunday after church, Jason and I had our usual breakfast at the Coffee Club. I generally get a gourmet beef burger and cappuccino whilst Jason always gets a BLT sandwich and cappuccino.

And this was me today before work (after horrific game). This is generally my uniform. It has to be black and white. I wear skirts or pants.

All in all it's been a great long weekend and I look forward to having more adventures with Jason. We are trying to see more places around our city and go exploring.

Some pretty pictures for the weekend

It's a gloomy day here and I'm all alone :( Jason is at work and even though I'm glad I'm home I wish he was too.

I have a lot of bits and pieces to catch up on anyway, even though all I feel like doing is sitting with a blanket on the lounge and watching movies all day.

To lift my spirits I thought I would share some random images from around the place. And I was going to share a song but it's too melancholy and it won't break me out of this mood. So only happy things, yes??

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I think this is absolutely adorable!

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Reminds me of dreaming and space.

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A heart shaped cut out back and stripes. Love!

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I would love a pretty bird cage like this. And what a sweet dress and bed.

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I love flowy dresses like this and bows!

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It's like carrying a part of the night sky around with you.

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Very sweet, without being overly sweet.

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I'm not sure why I like this image. I just do.

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I love stars. Maybe I should do something similar in one of the rooms.

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Just beautiful! I wish I could take photos like this.

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What a lovely thought :)

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Loving this wellie gumboots. I would love some.

And while I post this, I'm watching/listening to live streaming of the World Cup Kick-Off concert. I am a soccer fan :) I will be up at 4:30am on Monday to watch Australia vs. Germany even though I have to work on that day too, but it's only 4 hour shift and it's a public holiday!

Eee! This concert is making me all excited and happy. Yay! Thank you music.

Have a wonderful and inspired filled weekend!!

Project You

Via Just Putting it out There

Hello my lovelies! Today is the day I will post about my experience with the Project You sunglasses. I have to pass them on (sigh thinking about getting my own now) and now I must do my other part of the project, photos and share happy things that happened with the glasses. Oh and check out Alyssa's blog for more information about Project You.

This was taken on the train from Sydney to Lithgow. It was a 3 hour trip so I thought why not wear the heart shaped sunglasses. I swear it's the glasses that made the sunlight come in like that.

I promised Alyssa I would try and get a photo with some of the cows. These are bulls actually and they scare me. This is as close as I would get to them. The glasses gave me a boost of courage to face my fear.

I made some friends with inanimate objects. This is my porcelain Mr Eagle. As you can see we are quite close now. Enough to get intimate photos like this.

I even gave him a kiss, though I'm screwing my face up because his beak was a little cold.

SO my happy list from wearing the sunglasses....

* I wasn't afraid to be silly

* Just looking at the heart shaped glasses made me happy

* I smiled a lot more while wearing them

* I had more courage to do things (photo with cows)

* I noticed the little things around

* People looked at you again while wearing the glasses wondering why you look so happy

And a quote to share (and for Project You)

" Live with intention. Walk to the edge. Listen Hard. Practice Wellness. Play with abandon. Laugh. Choose with no regret. Appreciate your friends. Continue to learn. Do what you love. Live as if this is all there is. "

~ Mary Anne Radmacher

I had a lot of fun with the project and it reminded me that it's ok to take silly photos and to sing out loud (while cleaning) and to dance to a song without caring. I hope everyone else who gets the sunglasses has a great experience too.

Have a fabulous rest of week!

An award and babblings

I received this award from the wonderful Belen :) And it's another award with questions to answer.

1. What do you do when you're bored?

I usually surf the net, read or make lists

2. Are you an autumn or spring?

I would say Spring! I like the warmish weather with the sun shining and a slight breeze. It makes me feel happy.

3. Quick! Your stuck at an airport for hours and the only options are crossword puzzles or an old novel that nobody's heard of. Which one do you pick?

I would say the old novel. Only because I like to read. Although this goes by moods because I do like puzzles.

4. Jane Austen or Emily Bronte?

I would have to say Jane Austen because I've never read Emily Bronte. Plus Pride & Prejudice is one of my favourites.

5. Do you feel prepared for the give other questions coming your way?

Why is this question here???

6. Who's your hero?

My parents for sure!

7. Favourite word?

Wanderlust. It's my favourite word for the moment. And it's how I'm feeling lately.

8. Are you one of those "checklist" people or are you a "wing it and hope everything goes well" sort of person?

I'm more of a checklist person (I love lists) but no matter how prepared I am, I sometimes wing it.

9. What phrase has stuck with you in your life?

This would be my favourite bible verse. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. I use this a lot!

10. If you were to choose between coffee and tea, which would you go with?

I think. I love both but I usually drink tea with my breakfast and with afternoon snacks.

I award this to.... Jasmine of Lavender's Green, Ebony from Ebony & Ivory, Staley MC from In Staley's Atmosphere, Megan from Time after Tea, Fiona from Fee-Amore and Cassie from Hydrangeas and White Daisies. You're all lovely ladies!

I have had a pretty busy work week and really looking forward to my time off this week. A few things I've looking forward to in the next few weeks....

The Finders Keepers Market with my gorgeous friend Laura. I even took off work on that weekend so that I know that I can definitely go. It sounds amazing!

The Mercedes Benz Fashion Festival is a must! This will be our 4th year going with the girls. It's so much fun getting dressed up, hanging out and ogling the outfits. I look forward to it each year.

This fundraising event is hosted by Joshua Care International a non profit organisation that helps children and families in Manila, Philippines. My mum's work mate (who's younger than me) is involved with this ministry (her mother in law founded the organisation).

Anyway, I will be attending and Eden (my mum's work mate) asked if I wanted to set up a little stall selling my mini notecards and other things. I said I would love to :) It will be a great night and all for a good cause.

These are just a few of the events I'm looking forward too. There's also the women's conference at church, World Cup (Wheeee!! I love that Australia got in again), all my catch ups with friends. And Jason and I have decided to go and venture around our city more. There are so many wonderful places that I would love to see and I will take a ton of pics to share here.

Plus I have a heaps of letters, swaps and cleaning to do too. It's going to be a wonderful and (good) busy week.

Mail Catch up

Via Weheartit

Hello lovelies! I have a few catch up posts to do but I thought I should start with mail because there are a few things I should have shared a long time ago. I want to say thank you for your thoughts and comments about my last post :)

I had a few big days (and early starts and late finishes) at work and I'm so happy to be able to sit here on the lounge and relax. Although I have to work all weekend :(

Anyway, onto the mail....

Incoming (most of it is...I've been a bit slack on the mail front sorry girlies)

A Postcrossing postcard

My package from Jozen.

I was one of the winners of her giveaway from awhile back. So this picture is long overdue. This necklace is beautiful and unique. Plus she added a sweet hairclip. Beautiful!

A letter from Belen. I love all the stamps and the way she wrote my name and address.

Inside the letter. Love everything! And a little Hermione postcard. She's one of my fave characters :)

I received this from my brother Alvin and Melly his new wife. A postcard from Paris and they added a little bookmark because they know I love to read :) Love them!

Outgoing...

I was a little late in sending Elaine my mixed cd's for Tiffany's mixed cd swap. So I made a few to make up for my lateness.

This is more mixed cd's to Jamila. This was for Julia and Bree's mixed cd swap. I was in a rush and didn't really get to take photos of the cd's themselves.

A letter to Megan. Which I still need to send!! Eeep I'm so late with that.

I'm sure there were more but I can't seem to find photos. I'm sorry I've been so slack. I've been slack in so many areas of my life right now and I need to start organising myself.

And I needed to show my pens I bought better. All colourful and different. The Smiggle ones are mixed with gel, glitter, pastel and metallic mini pens. This will be fun to use I'm sure.

So now I must organise my life and everything I have to do or nothing will ever get done. Argh! I annoy myself so much sometimes. Have a wonderful weekend! x

Just a minute in...June

Via Wehearit

I almost bought that pen pack but I bought a different version instead

Just a Minute....In June

Reading... The Maze Runner by James Dashner, Emma, rereading Harry Potter books

Swapping... Journals! On Swap-Bot and with some blog friends (I will get the questions done soon!)

Obsessing... Over pens and journals. Went on a pen spree and have bought a few journals too

Writing... Letters (eep so behind), To Do lists, ideas, wishes, dreams

Wondering... What I should try to attempt to do first (out of my huge list)

Hoping... To get so inspired that I will be able to make a difference

Dreaming... Of all the possibilities

Praying... For guidance

Can you believe we are half way through the year? It's insane how fast time has gone this year. I've been married for four months now and it completely boggles my mind because I remember when it was four months to go. I am loving the married life though. There are so many things that have changed yet I feel so comfortable with them. I truly feel like I'm embracing the changes (I usually hate change) and I'm starting to accept myself more, if that makes any sense. I let myself be. If I choose to sing silly songs while typing away on my computer I will. If I feel like having a pen collection I will. In fact Jason thought it was hilarious when I told him that I'm turning my extra room into a library/stationery/letter/journal etc room. He told me to go for it and I love him for accepting my obsessions (and yes he has to listen to my made up songs while he is playing the PlayStation).

It's strange but I sometimes feel like I am emotionally detached when I blog. I don't really write about my feelings that much. On occasion yes, but most times I will hold back. I suppose it stems back to fear of what people think, but then I think does it really matter??

So I might be more open here on the blog depending on what it is that I want to blog about.

And because I have to show my most recent purchases...

I have bought three journals and two packs of coloured pens. They will be used for all my journal swaps and maybe for my letters to pretty them up.

And I have a reasonably busy week at work. Tonight is VIP night at Myer and it going to be insanely busy like it always is. Oh well...

Oh and to end this post I need to add this

I've been listening to this song a lot. It's just a piano cover version of Eminem's new song Not Afraid. I'm insanely in love with the piano and sound of the song. (I don't really listen to Eminem but I have to say that I listened to him a lot back in highschool when I had to catch the train home and one of my friends loved him and she would give me the other ear phone. It was good when you were feeling moody and didn't really want to talk to anyone. I guess I learnt to appreciate him).If you know me you know I love melancholy sounding songs, or piano and violin or epic sounding soundtrack songs. Maybe I will give a list of those songs to give an idea sometime.

Anyway, this turned out to be a more epic post than I intended. I hope you have a fantastic rest of week!